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'She must be fast!' Internet jokes as video shows moment killer yoga teacher Kaitlin Armstrong tries to escape prison

Kaitlin Armstrong is facing trial for the May 2022 murder of professional cyclist Moriah Wilson

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Kaitlin Armstrong, who stands accused of the murder of professional cyclist Moriah “Mo” Wilson, made an escape attempt while in the custody of Travis County corrections officers. 

The incident occurred as Armstrong was leaving a medical office building around 8.17 am on Wednesday, October 11. 

Officers thwart Kaitlin Armstrong's escape attempt

Officers pursued Armstrong, who was seen running with her hands restrained and attempting to jump over a fence in a cell phone video captured by a viewer. Eventually, officers caught up with her and restrained her.

The attempted escape could result in additional charges for Armstrong, although these charges have not been specified yet.

Armstrong's trial, scheduled for October 30 in Austin, pertains to the first-degree murder charge in Wilson's death. Wilson was shot and killed at an east Austin home in May 2022. Although police initially questioned Armstrong, a yoga teacher, she was not arrested until a warrant was issued a few days later, as it was revealed that she had fled the country.

After more than a month on the run, she was re-apprehended in June 2022 at a Costa Rica hotel and brought back to Texas. She is now facing additional federal charges related to passport misuse.

Despite Austin Police's assistance and the sheriff’s office transportation unit being on the way at the time of the escape attempt, the officers who were with Armstrong during her escape were the ones who ultimately apprehended her.

Escapes not uncommon during inmate transports 

While Travis County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) commonly transports inmates to doctor’s offices or hospitals when they require specialized medical treatment, the specific security measures in place during such transports were not disclosed due to security concerns.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), responsible for jail oversight, has limited authority once an inmate is outside the secure perimeter of a county jail. Transportation protocols, including the use of restraints and the presence of officers during inmate transport, are determined at the local level.

TCJS offers recommendations and training for jail staff regarding inmate transport procedures, especially when an inmate poses a threat to public safety.

“Anytime we have a situation out of the ordinary, we go back and look at every single detail to see, ‘If this was done differently, might the outcome have been different? What about this? What about that?’ And we learn from every single one of them, and we implement new procedures and policies based on them,” said Dark, as per KXAN.

Inmate escapes, such as Armstrong's escape attempt, are relatively common, with 121 escape incidents recorded in all Texas jail facilities since 2019. National data on escapes from custody is lacking, but escapes often occur during inmate transfers or medical facility visits.

Internet mocks Kaitlin Armstrong's escape attempt

Internet users found amusement in Armstrong's attempted escape. A user commented on Facebook, "She must be fast!" Another added, "This is so much like a cartoon lol stripped outfit and all."

A third tweeted, "Well, this will be the last time she’s not in shackles… What a history for her— all before she even goes to trial! Innocent people don’t run… Twice." "Thanks for the laugh, run forest run!" read a tweet.

"Wonder what her next plan was lol," a user said. "She really thinks she could just runaway huh," another remarked.